Chrysanthemum plant named Early Fresco

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Chrysanthemum morifolium Bailey of the white spray type, known as &#34;Early Fresco&#34; and characterized by a long flowering season, fast response, vigorous growth, and non-susceptibility to tip scorch/loss.

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemummorifolium bailey (spray type) known as "Early Fresco".

My new variety "Early Fresco" is a white sport from the variety WhiteFresco. White Fresco resulted from an extensive breeding program toproduce improved varieties for year round Chrysanthemum production,particularly for winter production. White Fresco is a white sport foundin the variety Pink Fresco, which originated from a cross between thevariety Rosechip and the variety Artic, the former being the seed parentand the latter being the pollen parent.

The variety Pink Fresco resulted from an extensive breeding program toproduce improved varieties for year round Chrysanthemum production,particularly for winter production.

I discovered the mutation known as "Early Fresco" in 1985, in a nurseryin Chichester, West Sussex, England.

Early Fresco has the following improved characteristics over the varietyWhite Fresco, the most similar year round spray type grown in Britain.

1. Early Fresco has a long flowering season similar to White Fresco.

2. Early Fresco is not susceptible (very resistant) to tip scorch/loss.

3. The response of Early Fresco is faster than White Fresco.

4. More vigorous than White Fresco, but Early Fresco does not stretch toproduce long pedicels requiring growth regulator treatment.

5. The flower size of Early Fresco is similar to White Fresco.

Asexual production of this new variety "Early Fresco" as performed inSussex, England, by rooting vegatative shoots shows that the abovecharacteristics are fixed and come true to type through succeedinggenerations.

The accompanying drawing shows a typical flower of my new varietydepicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in a color illustration of this type.

The following is a detailed description of the new variety "EarlyFresco" with color terminology in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, (R.H.S.).

Genus: Chrysanthemum.

Species: Morifolium Bailey.

Type: Spray.

Class: Decorative.

Breeding: A cultivated sport or mutation of "White Fresco" which was asport found in the variety "Pink Fresco" which was a cross between thevariety "Rosechip" and the variety Artic, the former being the seedparent and the latter being the pollen parent.

Propagation: Holds its distinguishing characteristics through succeedingpropagations by rooting vegetative shoots.

Flower: As grown and observed in Sussex, England, 6 to 12 flowers areborne on pedicels, after removal of the main apical bud.

Bloom:

Size.--Diameter of 7.5 cm. to 9.5 cm. when fully open.

Petalage.--250 to 300 Ray petals. 4 to 6 Disc Petals.

Color of open bloom.--Inner face of fully expanded petal R.H.S. 155C.Outer face of fully expanded petal R.H.S. 155C.

Response group.--9 weeks.

Temperature tolerance.--13° C.-18° C. (56° F.-65° F.) at night.

Plant.--Strong upright habit of growth, medium vigor.

Foliage.--Good quality with average internode length of 4 cm; mediumsize and medium texture, rounded; color R.H.S. 133A.

Stem.--Upright, medium thickness and strong. Color R.H.S. 131A atflowering.

Water uptake.--Good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum morifoliumbailey of the white spray type substantially as herein shown anddescribed, characterized particularly as to novelty by a long floweringseason, fast response, vigorous growth, and non-susceptibility to tipscorch/loss.